Jeffrey "Jeff" Warren Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor, musician and playwright.Daniels was born in Athens, Georgia and grew up in Chelsea, Michigan, where his father, Robert Lee Daniels, ran a local lumber yard. He was raised in the Methodist religion. After Daniels attended Central Michigan University, he wanted to become a doctor then he realised he liked music. His first performance in New York was in The Shortchanged Review (1979) at Second Stage Theatre.It was the first show of the inaugural season for Second Stage Theatre.
Daniels is best known for his roles in The Purple Rose of Cairo, Terms of Endearment, Gettysburg, Arachnophobia, Dumb & Dumber, and The Squid and the Whale. Although primarily a dramatic actor, some of Daniels' most well-known scenes are from the comedy Dumb & Dumber, in which he gets his tongue stuck to a ski-lift as well as having an attack of explosive diarrhea. In the 2002 film Blood Work, Daniels was cast against type as the film's villain.
He is currently focusing on recording a number of songs that he has written throughout his life, apparently marking key moments. According to personal statements, it seems that he has undergone a complete career change, keeping busy with frequent gigs and two full length albums, Grandfather's Hat and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged.
Daniels and his family reside in Chelsea, Michigan. He wrote, directed, and starred in Escanaba in da Moonlight and Super Sucker with Purple Rose Films. He was inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame on May 25, 2006 in Lansing, Michigan.
Daniels has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Rosemary Treado, since 1979. They have three children: Benjamin (b. 1984), Lucas (b. 1987), and Nellie (b. 1990). Daniels married Treado on Friday the 13th because he wore the number 13 on his baseball uniform. Daniels is a baseball fan who follows the Detroit Tigers and is also an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.
